Echoing in situ combustion oil recovery project in a Utah tar sand

The U.S. tar sand resource consists of an estimated 30 billion bbl (4.7 cu g) of oil. Most of this resource is in 6 large deposits in Utah. Through research and development to prove tar sand oil recovery methods, the U.S. Department of Energy is attempting to stimulate commercialization of this resource. Two in situ combustion field experiments have been conducted in Utah's Northwest Asphalt Ridge deposit. The second of these experiments, described in detail, was completed in early 1978 and consisted of a reverse combustion preparatory phase followed by a forward combustion production phase. Oil recovery exceeding 25% of the oil-in-place from a 40-ft x 120-ft (12-m x 26-m) 9-well line drive pattern provides encouragement for larger scale technical and economic demonstrations. (19 refs.)